202 Fishes 



narial flaps are divided into a larger proximal and smaller distal 

 fringed process. From the nostrils a skinny flap extends along the 

 sides of the head, and is hroadened opposite the corners of the month 

 into two rounded processes. 



The pectoral and ventral fins have slightly convex anterior margins 

 very slightly concave outer margins, and are pointed posteriorly. The 

 claspers are very small. The dorsal fins are snbequal in size, and the 

 lower lobe of the caudal fin is the longer. 



The spines on the head are small but sharp ; they form orbital 

 series of five, the first and last spines of each series being respectively 

 in front and bebind the orbit : two spines occur on each side of the 

 snout internal to the nostrils. There is a vertebral series of compara- 

 tively large and sharp backwardly directed spines — twenty -six between 

 the pectoral girdle and the first dorsal fin, three and two small lateral 

 spines between the dorsal fins, and three small spines behind the 

 second dorsal fin. The dermal covering as a whole is rough, but 

 without any very conspicuous asperities. 



Colour impossible to ascertain, but apparently greenish-grey in 

 life, with small faint darker spots on the fins and sides of the head and 

 tail dorsally, and dead white ventrally. 



Length, 36*5 centimetres 1 (including lower lobe of caudal, 38 centi- 

 metres). Probably attains a far larger size. 



Locality, Mediterranean, off Malaga, 300 fathoms. Previously 

 recorded from the Mediterranean. 



It is probable that the characters of S. aculeata undergo some 

 change with growth ; but the specimen described above is easily 

 distinguished from S. angelus of comparable size by the difference in 

 the dermal armature. Tbe general dorsal surface is much rougher 

 in S. angelus by reason of the larger size of the asperities, which are 

 pointed and closely set, while the spines of the head and back are not 

 very much larger tban the surrounding asperities at any period of life. 

 In a & angelus of 240 millimetres, presumably new-born, the spines of 



1 The specimen is somewhat distorted by careless preservation, and may in life 

 have been a few millimetres longer or shorter. 



